Train control car element



Slept 1931. w. H. REICHARD 1,824,172

.TRAIN CONTROL CAR ELEMENT Filed April 27. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l BY MMM@ATIZORNEY Sept. 22, 1931. w. H. REICHARD TRAIN CONTROL CAR ELEMENTFiled April 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PDbEEI II!!! III all 747514 rtvilla INVENTO BY ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1931. w. H. RElCllARD 1,824,172

TRAIN CONTROL CAR ELEMENT Filed April 27, 1929 4 Sheets5heet 5 FIG. 5.

as 23 a 26 7 1 I I D l I, ,n a l 9 1 56 Y 29 M ALE? F 8" 12 G H 32 Sept.22,1931. w. H. Rgld-IARP 1,824,172

' TRAIN CONTE-O-L CAR EIZIEMEN i Filed A vil 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ALTcreNA'mr-z ATTORIN EY Patented Sept. 22, 1931 ETED STATES PATENTOFFICE WADE IE. REICEARD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALRAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK TRAIN CONTROL CAR ELEMENTApplication filed April 27,

This invention relates to automatic train control systems, and inparticular concerns an inductive receiver for automatic train controlystems of the alternating current intermittent inductive type, asdisclosed, for carample, in the pending application of Phillip X. Rice,Ser. No. 106,478, filed May 8, 1926,

circuit so arranged that a given ad ustment is not appreciably affectedby vibration due to train operation or other cause.

Also, the receiver ofthis invention is so organized that it admirablymeets the economic requirements of commercial production.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the inventionwill be in part ap-' parent, and in part pointed out, as'the descriptionthereof progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, ref: erence will be made to theaccompanying drawings in which I Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing areceiver embodying the present invention, as attached. to a locomotiveframe;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the receiver of Fig. 1, with certain partsin section to show the structure thereof;

Fig. is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the adjustable core crossmember;

Fig. i is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the details of theterminal box;

5 is a section, rotated 180, on line 5-5 of FE '8 and showing a top viewof the adjustable core cross member;

6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5; and

7 is a perspectiveview of the receiver coreinembers and coils, showingtheir interrelation and the apparatus directly associated therewith.

Fi 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

1929. Serial No. 358,578.

The specific embodiment of the present invention is provided withinter-related parts which may be divided into three groups including,the means for mounting the receiver to a locomotive frame, theelectro-magnetic structure, and the housing for inclosing theelectro-magnetic structure.

Referringnow to the drawings, there is shown a receiver R mounted infront of, and between, the wheels of the front pony truck of alocomotive frame L (see Fig. 1). The supportin means comprises a bracketBR which is securely attached to the frame L. A wash-board'connection.such as disclosed in the patent to C. S. Bushnell, Pat. No. 1,710.655granted April 23, 1929, is used to attach the receiver R to the bracketBR. This connection includes a support member 1, a

corrugated plate 2, a plate 3, a bolt a, a square bushing 5, and a nut6. These parts are suitably arranged. so that the height of the receiverabove the rails can be readilyadjustable, and a given adjustmentmaintained by a bolt 7 with the usual lock nut.

The specific construction of the electromagnetic structure of thereceiver comprises a modified H shaped laminated core carrying thereonsuitable primary and secondary coils (see Fig. 7).

The laminated core structure includes right and left handmembers A and Brespectively, (see Fig. 3) which are placed lengthwise of the receiverR. and which have three parallel portions connected by two offsets,giving a bridge eflect appearance as seen in Fig. 2. This shapeservesthree purposes, namely, the end portions of the cores A and B arebrought near the lower base of the receiver R, in such a position thatthe trackwaydevice will have its greatest influence; the central upperportions of the cores A and B are raised to sucha position that suitablefixed and adjustable cross members can be placed in convenientpositions; the oblique or offset portions of the core members A and Bfurnish suitable sections for the primary and secondary coils P and Pand S and S respectively.

The cross members or bridge of the core structure include cores C and Dattached to a holding member 8 by rivets 9 on the right and left handsides respectively, as seen in Fig. 6. These cross members are mounted,so that they can be moved transversely in respect to core members A andB at the central portion of said core members A and B. At the right ofthe movable core members C and D are fixed core members G and H attachedto a holding member 10, and also at the left of movable core members Cand D are'the fixed core members E and F attached to a holding member11. c

The general shape of the core members C and D is rectangular, with atriangular shaped portion cut away on one end of each of said coremembers C and D. The exact shape of the core members C and D is bestseen in Figs. 5 and 6, which show how there is a varying amount of ironincluded within the magnetic bridge circuit as the holding member 8 withits core members G and D is moved transversely in respect to coremembers A and B. The movable core members C and D are mounted centrallywith respect to cores A and B, with a non-magnetic metal strip 12inserted between the milled surfaces of cores A and B and cores C and Dfor purposes to be hereinafter explained. Also, the fixed coremembers Eand F, and G and H.

are rectangular in shape. Core members G and H are mounted on the rightside of the movable core members C and D and core members E and F aremounted on the left side of movable core members C and D withnon-magnetic strips 32 and 39 between their lower milled surfacesand'the core members A and B (see Fig. 6). It will be hereinafterexplained how the fixed and movable core members are located withrespect to the core members A and B.

' The core member A (see Fig. 7) has the primary coil P mounted upon itsleft hand offset, and the secondary coil s 'mounted upon its right handoffset, while the core member B has the primary coil P mounted upon itsright hand offset and the secondary coil S mounted upon its left handoffset. These coils P P, S and S are mounted upon the core structure ina carefully insulated manner and so wedged that they will remain inpermanent positions.

The primary coils P? and P are energized from a suitable source, such asan alternator, in series with a tuning condenser C while the secondarycoils S -and S are connected in series with a control relay GR and atuning condenser C The operation of this electro-magnetie structure,with its associated control devices, is completely set forth in theabove referred to application of W. H. Reichard, Ser. No. 358,577..

The electro-magnetic structure including the core members and coils, asheretofore mentioned, is mounted in a housing, preferably of oak wood orbakelized duck comprising right and left hand members 13 and 14Lseparated by a central member 15. These housing members have recessesfor the primary and secondary coils P P S and S with their respectivelead wires, and have recesses to receive core members A and B and theirassociated parts.

With the core members A and B having their respective coils in position,placed within the central housing member 15, the right and left handhousing members 14; and 13, respectively, are placed in position andclamped by bolts 16, which pass through the recess bushings 18, housingmember 13, core member B, housing member 15, core member A, housingmember 14, and the recess bushing 18, and are made secure by nuts 17 Itwill be noted, that the recess bushings 18 fit into countersunk holeswith but a slight outer ring protruding beyond the surface of thehousing members. These recess bushings 18 provide cavities for the headsof bolts 16 and nuts 17 so that said heads of bolts 16 and nuts 17 canbe below the surface of the housing members.

Non-magnetic metal boots 19 and 20 are placed over the ends of thehousing members 13, 14 and 15, and also core members A and B. Theseboots 19 and20 are held in position by wood screws 21. The coilcavities, which are not entirely filled by the coils, and all otherparts of the casing are filled with insulating compound, so that, whencover board 22, made of micarta or other suitable insulating board, isplaced in position, the coils of the receiver are completely sealedwithin the housing. There are suitable recesses in the cover board 22 topermit the fixed and movable core structures to be suitably positioned.

The support member 1 is a casting of suitable non-magnetic material suchas phosphorbronze, which provides support for the housing and corestructures as well as furnishing a. terminal box. This support member 1also provides a space for the movable core member and providesdepressions where the various bolts attach the housing members.

'The holding member 8 is an inverted U shaped casting with the lamina ofcore members C and D riveted upon each side, as seen in Fig. 6. On eachside of the center is a web 8 which incloses a space for receiving arectangular nut 23, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6. These webs 8 form a slot,so that the holding member 8 can move vertically, as seen in Figs 3 and6, although a bolt 29 passes through the slot formed thereby. Thisholding member 8 is placed in the cavity provided for it, in the supportmember'l, in such a manner that slots 8 and 8 in member 8, pass over tle bosses 2 1 and 25 projecting down from said support member 1. A coilspring 26 is placed over bushings 27 and 28, with the bolt 29 passingthrough the support member 1,

bushing 27, coil spring 26, bushing 28, slot formed in web. 8,rectangular nut 23, and the slot in web .8 and fits into a bushingsocket 28 provided in'the opposite side of support member 1. It is thus.seen, that the holding member 8 is biased to the right, as seen in Fig.3, 'by the coil spring 26, and is moved from the right hand extremeposition, to the leftby clockwise rotationof bolt 29. It will also benoted, that the bosses 24 and 25 act as guides for. the holding member 8as they fit in the slots 8 and 8. .The core members Cand D are heldfirmly against the non-magnetic metal strip 12 by a coil spring 30 whichis placed within a screwcap 31.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the head of'bolt 29is locked in position andprotected against accidental or unauthorized operation, by a small boxcasing 27 closely conforming to,

and fixed in place over the head of bolt 29, by

bolts 29 furnished with a seal 29 The fixed core'mem-bers E and F areheld against the coremembers A and B with the non-magnetic strip 39intervening by screws 33 passing into housing member 15, and resilientlyheld in position by coil springs 36 received on studs 36 and restrainedfrom movement by bolt 40, which passes through washer 41, the housingmember 15, T shaped holding member 11, a hole in support member l, andlock washer 46, after which a nut 47 is threaded into position It is tobe noted, that a countersunkhole is provided for the head of bolt 40 andwasher 41 so that they Will not protrude below the bottom surface ofhousing member 15.

In a similar manneiythe core members G and H are held against the nonmagnetic strip 32 by a bolt 33 which ispassed through a Washer 34, thehousing member 15, T shaped holding member 10, a spacer 43 held to thesupport member 1, a hole in the support member 1, and lock washer '37,after which a nut 38 is threaded into position. The holding member 10 isheld in position asis member 11, by screws 33 and springs36, with thespacer 43 between the upper ends of the springs 36 and the supportmember 1.

Thus, the housing members and electromagnetic core structures aresupported by support member 1, being further attached by bolts 48 whichare passed through the hous ing member 15, the cover board 22, holes insupport member 1, and lock Washers 49, after which'nuts 50 are threadedinto position.

The terminal block 51 is held within a recess in the support member 1by'screws 52, which also hold a cover 53 to inclose the terminalconnections within an insulated housing. The lead wires are brought intothis insulated housing through coil spring bushings 54, while the leadwires going to the car carried apparatus are passed through a con- 1duit to the mechanism case.

It should be noted here, that the primary and secondary coils do notdiffer in structural characteristics, but rather in their electricalcharacteristics, such as their resistances, number ofturns and so forth.It should further be noted that the non-magnetic: strips 12, 32 and 39form a permanent air gap between the respective core members which theyseparate. An advantage is thus obtained in that a slight variation inair gap due to vibration oi areceiver does not change the .reluctance ofthe magnetic circuit appreciably, as compared tothe corresponding changewhich occurs, when the respective core members come in contact with eachother. In other words, the difference in reluctance of the magneticcircuit due to a change from no air gap, to a slight air gap, is

great, while the same slight change in air air gap when added to anexistingrair gap, does not cause a very great. change in the reluctanceof the magnetic circuit.

Also, from Fig. 5, it is seen that a very fine adjustment of themagnetic circuit can be obtained by varying the position of movable coremembers G and D in a direction transverse to core members A'and B,particularly so, as one endof each of the core members C and D has whatmight be called tapering ends.

A receiver or car carried element has thus been devised which iscomposed of a modified H. shaped core structure so arranged that themagnetic circuits can be readily balanced, and which also isof simpleconstruction, and is rugged and durable and which will withstand suchconditions as eXiston railroad rolling stock.

It will be understood that the above given specific description showsbut one form of d vice embodying the present invention, and has beengiven solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any mannerwhatsoever, in a limiting sense. t is obvious that this invention canassume many difierent physical forms, and is susceptible of numerousmodifications, and all such forms and modifications are intended to beincluded by this, invention,-'as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

hat I claim is 1. In a train control receiver, in combination, amagnetic core forming a partial magnetic corcuit, and a magnetic bridgecore member, nut and screw members for adjusting the position of thebridge member, and elastic means for retaining the'parts in ad justedpositions, whereby to vary the reluctance of said magnetic circuit, atwill.

2. In a train control receiver, in combination, a magnetic core forminga partial magnetic circuit, means including, a bridge core member, nut'and screw members for movterconnecting the legs, and a magnetic bridgeable part of the screw member for preventing tampering therewith.

3. In a receiver for train control systems, in combination, a magneticcore comprising separate spaced legs, a fixed bridge core incoreinterconnecting the legs and adjusting means for moving the magneticbridge core relatively to said legs.

4. In a receiver for train control systems,

"in combination, a magnetic core comprising separate spaced legs, afixed bridge core interconnecting the legs, an adjustable magneticbridge core interconnecting the legs, means for moving the magneticbridge core transversely of said legs, and non-magnetic spacers betweenthe said bridge cores and said legs for providing air gaps between thelegs and the bridges.

5. In a receiver for train control systems, in combination, a magneticcore comprising separate spaced legs, a fixed bridge coreinterconnecting the legs, an adjustable bridge core interconnecting thelegs, a carrier for said adjustable bridge core, and means for movingthe carrier and its bridge core transversely of said legs to thus varythe reluctance of the magnetic path from one leg to the other.

6. In a receiver for train control systems,

in combination, a magnetic core comprising separate spaced legs, a fixedbridge core interconnecting the legs, an adjustable bridge coreinterconnecting the legs, a carrier for said adjustable bridge, and nutand threaded bolt means for moving the carrier and its bridgetransversely of said legs to thus vary the reluctance of the magneticpath from one leg to the other.

7. In a receiver for train control systems, in combination, a magneticcore comprising separate spaced legs, a fixed bridge coreinterconnecting the legs, and an adjustable bridge core interconnectingthe legs, said bridge core, where it faces a leg, being taperedtransversely of the leg to thereby accentuate the change in reluctanceof the magnetic path from one leg to the other due to its being adjustedin position. 7

8. In a receiver for train control systems, in combination, a magneticcore comprising separate spaced legs, a fixed bridge coreinterconnecting the legs, an adjustable bridge core interconnecting thelegs, a carrier for said adjustable bridge, and nut and threaded boltmeans for moving the carrier and its bridge transversely of said legs tothus vary the reluctance of the magnetic path from one leg to the other,said bridge core, where it faces a leg, being tapered transversely ofthe leg to thereby accentuate the change in reluctance of the magneticpath from one leg to the other as it is adjusted in position.

9. In a traincontrol receiver, a generally H shaped magnetic core,primary and secondary coils on the core, and an adjustable bridge coreconstituting the cross bar oi the H and including a carrier and a coreportion on each side of the carrier, the core portions being tapered anend that overlies a leg of the H.

10. In a train control receiver, a generally H shaped magnetic core,primary and secondary coils on the core, and an adjustable.

bridge core constituting the cross bar of the H and including, acarrier, a core portion on each side of the carrier, the core portionsbeing tapered at an end that overlies a leg of the H, a socket in thecarrier for retaining a threaded nut, an adjusting bolt threat ed intothe nut. resilient means biasing the bridge in a direction transverse tothe leg parts of the core, the bridge being mowble against the resilientmeans by means of said nut and bolt.

11. In a train control receiver, a generally H shaped magnetic core,primary and second ary coils on the core, and an adjustable bridge coreconstituting the cross bar of the H and including, a carrier, a coreportion on each side of the carrier, the core portions being tapered atan end thatoverlies a leg of the H, a socket in the carrier forretaining a threaded nut, an adjusting bolt threaded in the nut,resilient means biasing the bridge in a direction transverse to the legparts of the core, the bridge being movable against the resilient meansby means of said nut and bolt, said bolt being loosely received in thecarrier, a casing inclosing the carrier and loosely receiving said bolt,resilient means pressing the carrier and its cores toward the legportions of the core, and a cap connectable to the casing to preventtampering with said bolt.

12. In train control receiver, in combination, a magnetic core in thegeneral form of an H, a primaryand a secondary winding on each leg ofthe core and on opposite es of the cross bar of the H, and means foradjusting the said bar of the core relatively to the legs to vary themagnetic couplingbetween primary and secondary windings on differentlegs.

In testimony whereof I aiiix 1y signature.

IVADE I-I. iiIC' rIAB-D.

